Volume control system for liquid packaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

A liquid filling device wherein an arcuate carrier is provided with track means carrying an intermediate region of tubing having its opposite ends communicating respectively with a liquid source and outlet container, and a tubing guide is selectively positionable along the track means for determining the length of intermediate tubing region extending along the track means, whereby roller means is movable to displace a predetermined volume of liquid through the tubing.

United States Patent Samson et al.

[in 3,899,010 [451 Aug. 12, 1975 VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LIQUIDPACKAGING APPARATUS Inventors: Marvin S. Samson, 3 Locust Grove Rd.;Frederick W. Pfleger, l 152 Barbara Dr., both of Cherry Hill, NJ. 08003Filed: Dec. 7, 1973 Appl. No.: 422,678

Related US. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 287,988,Sept. 11,

1972, Pat. No. 3.807.131.

US. Cl. 141/250; 53/281; 226/91;

417/477 Int. Cl.*.. B65B 3/26; F04B 43/08; F04B 43/12 Field of Search141/31 1, 25, 250; 53/281;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,756,752 9/1973 Stenner417/477 Primary Examinerl-louston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Robert K. Youtie [5 7 ABSTRACT A liquid filling device wherein anarcuate carrier is provided with track means carrying an intermediateregion of tubing having its opposite ends communicating respectivelywith a liquid source and outlet container, and a tubing guide isselectively positionable along the track means for determining thelength of intermediate tubing region extending along the track means,whereby roller means is movable to displace a predetermined volume ofliquid through the tubing.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LIQUID PACKAGINGAPPARATUS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-in-part of our copending patent application Ser. No.287,988, filed Sept. 1 l, 1972 entitled LIQUID PACKAGING APPA- RATUS,issued Apr. 30, I974 as US. Pat. No. 3,807,131.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While the apparatus of the present inventionhas been primarily developed and employed for use in the packagingofhypodermic syringes, it is appreciated that the instant volume controlsystem for liquid packaging is capable of many varied applications, allof which are intended to be comprehended herein.

While the metering or volume control apparatus of the above-mentionedparent patent application has been found to operate satisfactorily,certain difficulty has been experienced in the adjustment of volumetricdispensing, and certain structural features of the volume control systemhave been found relatively complex in manufacture, assembly and use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of thepresent invention to provide a volume control system for liquidpackaging apparatus which overcomes the abovementioned difficulties, isextremely simple, quick and efficient in accurate and precise adjustmentof volumetric dispensing, and change thereof, as desired, and whereinuniquely simple, staunch and durable structure is provided for a longand highly reliable useful life.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a volumetriccontrol system of the type described which is adapted to be accuratelyand precisely controlled, utilizing inexpensive and disposablematerials, and which may be conveniently set up and operated by personswithout special skills or training.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial front elevationalview showing a volume control system of the present invention in anoperative condition of use.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 22of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, and

specifically to FIG. Ithereof, the volume control sys tem of the presentinvention is there generally designated l0 and includes a supportstructure 11. The support structure 11 may be fabricated as desired, sayto include an upstanding front wall 12 suitably mounted or fixed (bymeans not shown) to support or mount the motor control system of theinstant invention.

More specifically, there is mounted on the support means, plate or wall12, in generally parallel, forwardly spaced relation with respectthereto, a carrier member 15 in the nature of a generally flat dischaving an arcuate or circular outline configuration or peripheral edge16. The carrier member or disc 15 is fixedly mounted in position spacedforwardly of the support member or wall 12, as by spacer members 17interposed between the disc and wall, and tie meansor fasteners 18extending through the spacers and fixedly securing the carrier member tothe support wall. Extending about the periphery 16 of the circular orarcuately configured carrier 15 may be an annular peripheral groove 20,defining track means for receiving tubing, as will appear presently ingreater detail.

A central or concentric through opening or hole 21 may be formed in thecarrier 15, ari'd a tubular bearing or journal 22 may be provided in thehole 21, extending rearwardly therefrom through an opening rearwardlybeyond or on the back side of the support wall 12. Suitable drive means,such as a single revolution motor or clutch 23 may be fixed to thesupportmember or wall 12, rearwardly thereof, as by fastener means 24. Adrive shaft 25 may extend from the drive means 23 rotatably through thejournal bearing 22 forwardly beyond the carrier 15. On the forward endof the drive shaft 25 may be provided a'radial extension member, crankor arm 26 having its free, outer or distal end region 27 beyond thecircumference l6 and track 20 of carrier 15. Carried at the outer endregion 27 of the rotative arm 26, is roller means 28, say in the form ofa roller or wheel located inwardly or rearwardly of the arm end region27, generally coplanar with and adjacent to the annular track means 20.In this position generally coplanar with the carrier 15, andapproximately tangent to the latter, the roller 28 is provided with ashaft 29 generally parallel to the drive shaft 25 and carried by the armend region 27 to mount the roller for rotation about the axis of shaft29, and eccentric rotation with the arm 26 about the axis of shaft 25.The roller 28, .thus upon rotation of arm 26, is adapted to effectivelyroll in tangential relation with the carrier 15 along the track means20, as will appear presently in greater detail.

As noted hereinbefore, the track carrier or disc 15 is located in spacedrelation forwardly of the support wall 12, so as to define therebetweena space 30. Generally coplanar with the space 30, so as to be inwardlyor rearwardly of the plane of annular track 20, there is provided atubing guide, deflector or diverter 35. The tube guide or deflector 35may constitute a generally circular member or knob 36 having anoutwardly facing peripheral guide track or groove 37 located in theplane of space 30. The tube guide member 35 is located adjacent to thecarrier 15, being approximately tangent to the latter, but offsettherefrominto the plane of space 30, being suitably secured to thesupport wall 12, as by fastener means'38. As best seen in FIG. 1, thetubing guide member 35 is located approximately to one side the supportwall 12, as by mounting means or fastener A tubing guide arm isgenerally designated 45, and lies primarily in the space 30, includingan inner r hub region 46 surrounding and rotatably receiving the journalbearing 22. The arm 45 extends thence radially outwardly to an outer endregion 47 beyond the periphery 16 of carrier 15. As thus far described,the guide arm 45 lies generally in the plane of space 30, and of tubingguide members 35 and 40. However, as noted hereinbefore the tubing guidemember 35 lies at approximately 3 oclock with respect to the disc-shapedcarrier 15, while the tubing guide member 40 lies at approximately 4oclock with respect to the carrier, and the tubing guide arm isrotatable throughout a substantial angle.

At the outer end region 27 of the swingable or rotative guide arm 45,there is provided a transverse enlargement or head 48 extendingforwardly generally into the plane of tubing carrier and locatedoutwardly beyond the carrier periphery 16. That is, the radially innersurface 49 of the tubing guide arm head 48 is located in outwardlyspaced facing relation with the radially inner region of carrierperiphery 16. The space between the carrier periphery 16 and guide armhead 48 may be seen in FIG. 1, there being designated 50.

In addition, a pair of elongate member or pins 51 and 52 are carried bythe transverse arm head 48, being generally coplanar with each other ina plane just in-' ward or rearward of the carrier track 20. That is, the

pins 51 and 52 are located in angularly spaced relation along the track20, just inward or rearward thereof, and each extends from the guide armhead 48 radially inwardly across the space 50 toward and terminatingproximate to the peripheral surface 16 of the discshaped carrier 15. Oneof the pins 51 may be carried by the guide arm head 48 and yieldablyspring biased radially inwardly therefrom, terminating just short of theperipheral carrier surface 16 for free movement therealong upon guidearm rotation. The other pin, say pin 52 may be adjustable, say by screwthreads 53 for movement into and out of firm holding engagement with thecarrier periphery 16. In this manner, the guide arm 45 is selectivelyswingable about the axis of shaft 25, as described hereinbefore, and isadjustably positionable at any selected location along its path ofswinging movement by releasable, radial inward extension of pin 52 intoholding engagement with the carrier periphery 16. It will now beappreciated that there is an opening or passageway 54 defined in thespace 50 between the pins 51 and 52, and the carrier periphery 16 andhead inner surface 49, for a purpose appearing presently.

A resiliently flexible tubing or length of tube 55 has one end region 56communicating with-a fluid source, such as liquid pharmaceutical to bemetered. The tubing 55 may extend from the fluid source, being suitablyguided and held,for passage beneath and upwardly,

4 partially along the tube guide 35 within guideway or track 37 to atubing region 57. From the fluid source to the tubing region 57, thetubing portion 56 may lie generally in the plane of space 30 and tubeguide 35, closely adjacent to the front of support wall 12. At thetubing region 57, the tubing is deflected, diverted or displacedtransversely forwardly, as by suitable forma tion of the tube track 37of guide 35, or other suitable means, and extends thence in an arcuate,generally planar configuration, as at 58, along the arcuate periphery 16of carrier 15, within the adjacent portion of track means 20. Thearcuate intermediate tubing portion 58 thus lies in the planeof carrier15, and is similarly spaced outwardly fromthe support wall 12 upon itsextension between tubing guide 35 and guide arm 45. In particular, thearcuate intermediate tubing region 58 extends to a tubing portion 49which is diverted or deflected transversely inwardly out of the track 20toward support wall 12 into the plane of space 30. The transverselydeflected portion 59 passes inwardly or rearwardly through thepassageway 54 between guide pins 51 and 52, and the carrier 15 and guidearm head 48. From-the inwardly or rearwardly diverted tubing portion 59,the tubing extends, as at 60, in the plane of space 30 and tubing guideto pass over and downwardly along the latter within its track 42. Fromthe tubing portion 60, past the tubing guide 40, there extends a tubingoutlet portion 61 toward a container, such as a hypodermic needle, orother, for receiving a metered amount of fluid. I

It will now be understood that the intermediate portion 58 of tubing 55between transversely extending or offsetting portions 57 and 59 lie inthe plane of carrier 15 along its track 20, and as so positioned issqueezed and closed by rolling engagement therewith of roller 28. Thus,upon each complete rotation of roller arm 26, identical amount of fluidis displaced through the tubing 55 corresponding to the volume ofintermediate, metering tubing portion 58 which is compressed. Thisvolume is quickly and easily adjusted by mere rotation of pin 52 todisengage the latter from carrier periphery 16, permitting'rotativeadjustment of the guide arm 45 about its axis 25 to a selected position,whereupon the pin 52 is retightened to function in the manner of a setscrew to maintain the selected angular positioning of guide arm 45. Tofacilitate volume adjustment, the pin 51 may be resiliently retractedradially outwardly to permit passing tubing laterally across the path ofpin 51. Of course, suitable calibration may be provided, as by indicia,say on the face of support wall 12 to indicate desired location of theguide arm 45 corresponding to a required volumetric displacement.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the presentinvention provides avolume control system for liquid packaging apparatus which is extremelysimple in structure, durable and reliable in operation, capable ofsterile metering, and which permits of quick and easy selectiveadjustment to obtain any desired volumetric displacement, and whichotherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Liquid packaging apparatus comprising support means, a tubing carrieron said support means, generally planar track means extending along saidcarrier, resilient flexible tubing having an intermediate regionextending along and in the plane of said track means, the remainder ofsaid tubing being out of said track means plane, tubing guide means forvarying the length of said intermediate tubing region in said planealong said track means, one end of said tubing extending to fluidcommunication with a source of fluid to be packaged and the other end ofsaid tubing extending to fluid communication with a packaging container,and roller means mounted for movement in the plane of and along saidtrack means in rolling engagement with said intermediate region oftubing to displace a quantity of liquid to the container.

2. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 1, said track meansbeing generally arcuate and fixed relative to said support, said guidemeans being selectively positionable along said track means, and saidroller means being mounted for movement along said arcuate track meansindependently of the position of said guide means.

3. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 2, said track meansextending externally about the periphery of said carrier, said guidemeans defining a passageway communicating with said track for leadingtubing out of the plane of said track at any selected position along thelatter.

4. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 3, said roller meansbeing mounted for eccentric rotation in said rolling engagement in theplane of said track generally externally tangential thereto.

5. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 1, said track meansbeing of generally convex arcuate configuration, and said roller meanscomprising an arm swingable about the center of curvature of saidarcuate configuration, and a roller carried by said arm at a radiusgreater than that of said curvature.

6. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 5, said tubing guidemeans comprising a guide arm pivoted about said center of curvature, anda tubing receiver on said guide arm slidably receiving said tubing andguiding the latter transversely of said track out of the track plane.

7. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 6, in combination withreleasable securing means for securing said tubing receiver at anyselected position of its arcuate movement.

8. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 7, said tubing receivercomprising a pair of guide elements spaced along said track and defininga passageway therebetween opening transversely of said track forslidably receiving a portion of said tubing extending transversely ofsaid track upon pivotal movement of said guide arm.

1. Liquid packaging apparatus comprising support means, a tubing carrieron said support means, generally planar track means extending along saidcarrier, resilient flexible tubing having an intermediate regionextending along and in the plane of said track means, the remainder ofsaid tubing being out of said track means plane, tubing guide means forvarying the length of said intermediate tubing region in said planealong said track means, one end of said tubing extending to fluidcommunication with a source of fluid to be packaged and the other end ofsaid tubing extending to fluid communication with a packaging container,and roller means mounted for movement in the plane of and along saidtrack means in rolling engagement with said intermediate region oftubing to displace a quantity of liquid to the container.
 2. Liquidpackaging apparatus according to claim 1, said track means beinggenerally arcuate and fixed relative to said support, said guide meansbeing selectively positionable along said track means, and said rollermeans being mounted for movement along said arcuate track meansindependently of the position of said guide means.
 3. Liquid packagingapparatus according to claim 2, said track means extending externallyabout the periphery of said carrier, said guide means defining apassageway communicating with said track for leading tubing out of theplane of said track at any selected position along the latter.
 4. Liquidpackaging apparatus according to claim 3, said roller means beingmounted for eccentric rotation in said rolling engagement in the planeof said track generally externally tangential thereto.
 5. Liquidpackaging apparatus according to claim 1, said track means being ofgenerally convex arcuate configuration, and said roller means comprisingan arm swingable about the center of curvature of said arcuateconfiguration, and a roller carried by said arm at a radius greater thanthat of said curvature.
 6. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim5, said tubing guide means comprising a guide arm pivoted about saidcenter of curvature, and a tubing receiver on said guide arm slidablyreceiving said tubing and guiding the latter transversely of said trackout of the track plane.
 7. Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim6, in combination with releasable securing means for securing saidtubing receiver at any selected position of its arcuate movement. 8.Liquid packaging apparatus according to claim 7, said tubing receivercomprising a pair of guide elements spaced along said track and defininga passageway therebetween opening transversely of said track forslidably receiving a portion of said tubing extending transversely ofsaid track upon pivotal movement of said guide arm.